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Jun192013

Washington, D.C. – The leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the Senate’s passage of 14 bills that will encourage the development of energy on federal lands, protect wilderness areas, expand the boundaries of a historically significant site and expand recreational opportunities and access at several rivers and federal sites.

“I commend Senator Murkowski and the rest of my colleagues on the committee for proving that sensible bills with bipartisan support can thread the needle and pass the U.S. Senate,” Wyden said. “The bills passed today will promote recreation, speed up development of renewable power and protect some of our country’s most pristine areas.”

“It’s encouraging to see senators from both sides of the aisle working together to move energy and lands bills through the Senate,” Murkowski said. “Sen. Wyden and I have made it a priority to focus our Committee efforts first on areas of broad consensus, and, today, I believe we’ve found a balance between energy development and conservation in passing these 14 bills.”

The Senate passed 14 bills representing both Democratic and Republican legislation, including three wilderness bills, and measures improving permitting for energy projects.